Ticat, Argo reunite after tragedy

Argo running back Cory Boyd (above) and Ticats defensive back Carlos Thomas were teammates at South Carolina University. They got back together following the tragic death of another teammate, Denver Broncos' Kenny McKinley. (CRAIG ROBERTSON/Toronto Sun)

It took a tragedy involving a friend and collegiate teammate for Carlos Thomas and Cory Boyd to reunite.

Having gone their separate ways once their days at South Carolina had ended, Thomas and Boyd rekindled their relationship in the wake of Kenny McKinley’s death, a Denver Broncos receiver who took his own life last fall.

“For a time, we lost touch,’’ Thomas said of Boyd. “When Kenny died, it brought us back together.

“Cory was like my brother. He used to look out for me a lot and he helped me keep my head on straight.”

Thomas and Boyd speak occasionally, their most recent conversation taken place over the phone last week.

In one year, Boyd made himself a household name in Canada and the Argos’ biggest offensive weapon.

Thomas has finally found a home in Hamilton, but he knows one bad game or one bad stretch will land him back on the list of football’s unemployed.

“Cory loves where he’s at,’’ Thomas added. “When I heard last year Cory was going to Toronto, I knew what was going to happen. Cory’s a player.”

And Thomas is hoping to become an every day player.

“The depth chart lists me as a starter, but in my mind I’m trying to make the team.”